The latest reports coming out of Ecuador indicate that Petrobras, the Brazilian National Oil Company, is abandoning its plans to build an oil access road into Yasuní National Park. This news is a tremendous boost to the Ecuadorian and international coalition of environmental groups and scientists from all over the world who have been working for nearly two years to stop the Petrobras road from being built into Yasuní.

On February 2, Ecuador’s leading newspaper (El Comercio) reported that Petrobras is preparing a roadless alternative to access two drilling platforms within the park. The news article also reported that, according to this new plan, the processing facility would not be built inside the park. Instead, the oil processing facility would be built 2 km north of the park boundary at the end of Petrobras’ new 17 km road that stops just north of the Tiputini River, which is the northern boundary of Yasuní National Park. This road that Petrobras constructed in the spring of 2005 was originally designed to continue into the park to access the drilling platforms, but was halted by the Environment Ministry in July 2005.

Petrobras still has not officially submitted their revisions to the Environment Ministry. There are also reports that the Environment Minister will not approve any new plans by Petrobras during 2006.

It must be kept in mind that industrial corporations can put highly controversial projects, for example, the Petrobras road, on hold when there is overwhelming opposition, only to revive these projects years later when the opposition has been overcome or loses steam. It is too soon to declare a complete victory. Nevertheless, this retreat by Petrobras is a huge step in the right direction.

Save America's Forests (via our Yasuní Rainforest Campaign) is working closely with the Huaorani, the indigenous hunter-gatherer people of Yasuní, , and other environmental groups in order to stop the entire Petrobras oil project from being constructed. We oppose any oil wells being drilled inside Yasuní National Park by Petrobras or any other oil companies.